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Permalink Reply by AbuMaia on September 8, 2011 at 11:37pm

I'd assume it has something to do with not wanting to appear weak to others, even to a doctor. Going out for treatment implies we're not able to "suck it up" and "take it like a man". It's a cultural thing I'd guess.

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Permalink Reply by Doug Reardon on September 8, 2011 at 11:38pm

For some, death is preferable to extending one's life with painful and agonizing procedures.

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Permalink Reply by Melissa M. on September 9, 2011 at 12:44am

I'd heard the opposite, that it was women who didn't address medical issues. So I got curious.

I just did a cursory search and it seems that both claims exist. For women, they say it's because they spend so much time taking care of others that they just ignore their own needs. I don't know why men do it.

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Permalink Reply by Kairan Nierde on September 9, 2011 at 2:24am

That is so sad.  I'm sorry to hear about your friends, Ed. 

 

My Dad isn't that bad about caring for himself, but after a year of reminders, poking, prodding, and polite requests, we had to threaten to tell his mom and brothers in order to get him to have a cancer screening (thankfully it was negative).  He routinely forgets to take his medicines too.   

 

Strength is one thing, but when your body finally fails you, what are you holding out for

 

...I think it has to do with needing to feel independent, self-determined, and stoic.    

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Permalink Reply by Chris Woolford on September 9, 2011 at 2:25am

I agree with AbuMaia, except I would say it is more psychological than cultural. I think that guys want to be the "alpha male" and may think that because they don't seek treatment they are stronger than their competition. 

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Permalink Reply by Rick on September 9, 2011 at 8:44pm

I think this nation has turned into one of hypochondriacs. At the slightest sign of illness, we rush our kids (or ourselves) off to the doctor. For most healthy people, illness is not (or should not be) a reason to see the physician. Our body has an immune system that is capable of combating most things that we encounter. Now that there is a pill for almost every conceivable symptom, we’ve bought into the idea that drugs can and will cure anything. By visiting the doctor, most of us are looking for that easy fix, that magic pill that will make all the problems go away.

 

I personally only go to the doctor only when there is something I know I am unable to manage by myself. I don’t go for every bump, bruise, sniffle, sneeze, headache, upset stomach, etc. That’s a bit excessive. I have no problem asking for help when I need it, but I’m willing to endure an extra day or two of discomfort to let me body take care of itself.

 

Is it that men are less willing to go to the doctor to address serious illness, or that we simply appear to be  because, perhaps women are more willing to go to the doctor for the slightest reason?

 

As for the men in your story, if their condition is truly terminal, perhaps they’ve simply accepted their situation knowing that there is nothing medicine can do to cure them.

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Permalink Reply by Ed on September 10, 2011 at 8:51am

Rick,

 

Obviously people don't in general run to the doctor's office for sneezes and sniffles. I am talking about the guy who has gone a year with that blood in his stools and deep down knows should be looked at by a professional. But they don't. Instead what could of been a correctable condition is often times shrugged off for months on end until the disease/problem is exacerbated to a potentially life ending situation. It makes no sense to me. I am gonna get my butt (no pun intended) to the doc's office. I have but one shot at existence and I wanna stick around a lot longer.  :^ ) 

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Permalink Reply by Spencer on September 9, 2011 at 10:27pm

I suppose it could be cultural, since throughout the majority of human history those who are more masculine are expected to be less dependent (as dependency is thought to be a female characteristic). Are there any cultures that don't have that general inclination?

 

"I'm alright honey! Bleeding from six holes in the head doesn't hurt, and anyway, I'm not in a coma!"

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Permalink Reply by Ed on September 10, 2011 at 9:03am

"Are there any cultures that don't have that general inclination?"

 

Maybe the French....just kidding.

 

I had an unfortunate accident when felling a huge tree on my property a couple years ago. The tree bucked backwards off the stump and, while still standing upright, landed on top of my foot. I had to pull with all my strength to get my foot out before the tree went over. Needless to say the weight of a 60 foot oak tree did a number on my foot. But in my stubbornness I would not go the doctor. My reasoning was that there is not a lot the doc can do with a crushed foot. It basically has to heal itself hopefully. It took about 3 months for all the dead blood cells to work it's way out through my toes. That was weird watching my toes turn purple as the blood migrated out from the injury. My refusal to go to the doctor certainly pissed my wife and mother off. But six months later I was back to normal for the most part. I do have a sizable scar on my shin where I had to rip my foot out from under the tree. I am lucky and learnt a valuable lesson about the unpredictability of tree felling.

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Permalink Reply by Ratifying Obliqueer on September 26, 2011 at 12:09am

Is it pride?

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